On the other side of the pool, Harrison is sprawled on a deck chair, with Imogen perched beside him, her daughter Hope in her arms. My toes are dipped in the water, from where I’m sitting on the edge of the pool, watching Joseph’s careful concentration as he tries to blow bubbles from his floatie.
“Why aren’t you at work?” I call across to Harrison once Joseph’s distracted by his toys again.
Imogen answers for him, adjusting Hope on her hip. “He got FOMO. Said he couldn’t let us have fun without him.”
Harrison smirks. “Michael wanted to kill me.”
“I bet,” I laugh.
“He’ll be right.” Harrison leans back with a smug grin. “He doesn’t need me breathing down his neck anymore.”
Imogen rolls her eyes. “Translation: he was bored.”
“No. I’m being the supportive brother, letting his younger brother run the shop now,” he corrects, but Imogen’s laugh says otherwise.
Xavier straightens suddenly, squinting toward the far end of the fence. “Liv, grab Joseph. Now.”
I blink up at him, confused, but something in his voice gets me moving anyway. I scoop Joseph up just as Imogen frowns. “Why? What’s—”
“No way. What the fuck? Where’d that come from?” Harrison’s voice slices through the air.
Imogen whips around. “What is it?”
“Shh.” Xavier’s tone is sharp. “It’s fine. Don’t make any sudden movements.”
Oh, fantastic. That voice? That’s the snake voice. I know it well. Comes out every spring or summer when someone slithery decides to sunbathe where they shouldn’t. I’ve seen my brothers do this dance a dozen times. The perks of country life—your neighbours have eight eyes, or scales, and a death wish. I glance over to where Xavier’s looking, and sure enough, there it is.
A python, coiled tight in the garden bed, just metres from where I’m sitting with Joseph. Harrison makes a noise I’m ninety per cent sure isn’t human, somewhere between a gasp and a squeak. Isla, bless her, immediately gathers the girls and ushers them to the far side of the pool.
Xavier barks at Harrison to shut up, already stepping toward the snake. I can’t help but laugh, pointing toward the snake. “Imogen, didn’t you just say you wanted another pool noodle? Because, babe, there’s one slithering right there.”
“Funny, Liv,” she deadpans, and Isla chuckles.
“Your husband’s about to wrestle Satan’s belt, and you’re laughing!” Harrison retorts. “That’s a fucking pool noodle from Hell,” he adds, as he clutches the chair arm, like it might protect him.
I can tell Imogen is trying her best not to laugh at her poor, frightened husband, because her lips are pressed tight, and her shoulders have a subtle tremor to them.
“Uh-oh, Daddy said a bad word,” Joseph announces from beside me, eyes wide.
“Daddy’s just scared.” Imogen snorts, responding to her son.
“Scared of the snake?” Joseph tilts his head. “I’m not scared.”
“Well,” I say, grinning down at him, “you’re braver than your dad, bud.”
Xavier carefully moves closer, and the snake hisses in response, loud enough that Harrison practically levitates out of his chair.
Laughter bursts out before I can stop it. “Oh my God, Harrison, you big baby!”
“Excuse me for not wanting to die before lunch!” he snaps, but even he can’t conceal his laughter at himself.
Xavier shoots him a look. “If you’d stop talking, I could actually get the damn thing.”
Imogen presses a palm to her forehead. “I’m so embarrassed right now.”
“You chose me,” Harrison fires back, gesturing to himself. “You picked this, baby!”
“Regretting it every day,” she says, biting back a grin.
